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22/08/2025

Yacht carefully hoisted out of the water and up into the yard for repairs... ⛵

17/08/2025

View from Devonport, Plymouth

17/08/2025

ODD FELLOWS HALL, DEVONPORT: A PINT IN A PYRAMID - 🌴

Report by Duncan Williams for View From UK

Odd Fellows Hall on Ker Street, Devonport, is one of the most distinctive buildings in Plymouth and among the most remarkable examples of early 19th-century Egyptian Revival architecture in England. Designed by John Foulston in 1823, the hall stands as a testament to both the ambition of Devonport during its rise as an independent administrative centre and the experimental spirit of its celebrated architect.

The building was originally conceived as the Classical and Mathematical School before being converted into a Civil and Military Library. Its unusual façade, with lotus-topped columns and stylised pharaonic detail, quickly earned it the popular nickname 'Egypt House'. Later it became the Odd Fellows Hall, serving as a gathering place for the fraternal society from which it still takes its name. Within the Plymouth district there is nothing else like it; the nearest comparable building is the Egyptian House in Chapel Street, Penzance.

In time, the Odd Fellows evolved once again, taking on a new role as a social club for the local community. Now known as the Ker Street Social Club, its exterior remains a rare survival of Foulston’s Egyptian Revival vision, while its interior reflects the welcoming informality of a traditional club. The atmosphere is one of warmth and continuity, where regulars meet over darts, pool, and pints, and where the walls still carry traces of the building’s original decorative themes.

Historic England has placed Odd Fellows Hall on its ‘at risk’ register, reflecting the challenges of maintaining such a singular structure. The roof and fabric of the building show signs of wear, and its long-term future is uncertain. Yet it continues to function as both a community hub and a living piece of architectural history. Its resilience owes much to the affection of those who use it and the recognition that it represents something irreplaceable in Devonport’s story.

Odd Fellows Hall remains a building of national significance and local pride: a rare and eccentric survival of a moment in architectural fashion, and a reminder that heritage is at its strongest when it continues to serve the community around it.

( Photos: News Advertiser newspapers 📸 )

12/08/2025

LEGO® robotics are sets that combine building blocks with programmable electronic components, allowing anyone age 6+ to build whatever they want and then code it to perform functions.

Libraries Unlimited, with support from Devon County Council, has introduced hands-on LEGO® robotics and coding workshops in libraries across Devon and Torbay, funded through the Library Improvement Fund from Arts Council England.

09/08/2025

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued “do not eat” warnings over a range of items due to undeclared allergens, contamination risks and, in one case, the possible presence of insects.

Report by Duncan Williams for News Advertiser newspapers

02/08/2025

Uninsured driving is a growing issue across the UK, with one person falling victim to an uninsured or hit-and-run driver every 20 minutes.